The Oshikango Border Post has emerged as the busiest hub for Namibia’s informal cross-border trade, handling 46.7% and N$4.8 million in total trade, according to a latest report.
The Namibia Statistics Agency’s Informal Cross Border Trade Report says despite a 41.9% drop in exports since 2019, Oshikango maintained its leading position with N$4.4 million in exports and accounted for 33.6 per cent of all imports.
“The Oshikango Border Post contributed immensely to the positive trade balance with a trade surplus of N$4.0 million. In November 2023, the highest value for exports (N$4.4 million) and imports (N$397 000) were recorded at the Oshikango Border Post,” the report says.
Among the border posts surveyed, Katima Mulilo followed with 31.0 per cent (N$2.8 million) of exports and 5.6 per cent (N$66,000) of imports, totalling N$2.9 million and a surplus of N$2.8 million.
Omahenene contributed 16.1 per cent (N$1.5 million) of exports and 31.2 per cent (N$368,000) of imports, with a trade volume of N$1.8 million and a surplus of N$1.1 million.
Sarasungu had the lowest export share at 4.5 per cent (N$407,000) and 29.6 per cent (N$349,000) of imports, with total trade reaching N$756,000 and a small surplus of N$58,000.
The findings further revealed a significant drop in total informal trade, decreasing by 46.8 per cent from N$19.4 million in September 2019 to N$10.3 million in November 2023.
Exports dominated the trade, accounting for 88.5 per cent of the total (N$9.1 million), while imports contributed only 11.5 per cent (N$1.2 million).
“Namibia reported a trade surplus of N$7.9 million with no trade deficits ever since the inception of the Informal Cross Border Trade Survey,” it is reported.
The survey reported that 25,765 traders were interviewed. It was noted that exports, due to their significance in trade, involved the majority of traders, with 82.7 per cent, or 21,302 traders.
On the import side, 4,463 traders participated, representing 17.3 per cent of the total.
It is further reported that figures revealed that male traders lead in exports, contributing N$6.0 million compared to N$4.3 million by females.
However, female traders dominated the import sector, controlling 71.5 per cent of imports.
“A closer look into the flow of goods shows that the value of goods traded by males accounted for 62.1 per cent while that of females accounted for 37.9 per cent of the total informal exports during the period under review,” it reads.
Angola emerged as Namibia’s largest informal trade partner, accounting for 69.0 per cent of exports and 94.4 per cent of imports.
Zambia took the remaining 31.0 per cent of exports and contributed 5.6 per cent of imports.
Key export commodities included sugar, cereal flours, and baked goods, while imports were led by cereal grains, vegetables, and pasta.
